Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-01-08
UNJUST ATTACKS
of the .rInteligencer" Upon Captain Por-
ter Smith-No Personalities Please.
WHEELING. January 18th, 1887.

of the .'Intelligencer upon CaPthh Tof-
ter smith-No Personalities Please.
WHEELING, January 18th, 1887.
To The Editor Of the Register.
DEAR SIR.-The hteHigencer has re-
sumed its attacks upon Captain Porter
Smith. What is the reason of this and
why is Captain Smith SO constantly
bounded by that paper? He had not been
three weeks in office before the Intctiigen-
Ger opened battery after battery upon him
opd now il looks as though it intends to
Toke nm and rehash all the matters which
created so much and wide spread ILL
feeling in the City year before last. When
the pursuit of man becomes persecution
II reacts, when warfare on character Is
waged, in season and out ofseason popular
feeling is aroused in favor of the victim,
and when a disposition is shown to run
man to death land to trample on him
without mercy, the sympathy Of the fair
minded and fair dealing will
lead them to the aid of the prosecuted.
Does the InteHigcneer desire the election of
Porter Smith! If it keeps up its present
course the people of Wheeling will GER
tainly give him many hundred majority ut
the coming election. The spectacle OF an
au,iable, kind hearted and humane man,
moor in purse, with a wife and family to
support, pursued by q daily newspa-
per. with a vengeance and an energy that
are not human, is not one OF which the
people of Wheeling are fond, and is one
which all good and feeling men will desire
to rebuke The REGISTER has made no
attacks upon Captain Bennett. 1t has lett
him to pursue his canvass severely alone.
1t knows that every voter in the city is &C
ouainted with Captain Benefits last ad-
ministration and with his conduct out
of office. 1t seems willing to
leave the whole matter to the
verdict of the election. We had four years
of Captain Bennett and we have had two
wears of Captain Smith. If law breaking,
riot, disorder and burglary tlourished I'M
der Captain Bennett, if wheels of fortune,
gambling and thieving thrived during his
last two years, the people have the means
of knowing. If under Captain Smith such
things have gone on to a greater or less ex-
tent the information is before us and the
election will show that such things can
not be hidden under bushel. Let the
voters compare the two administrations
and take their choice. 1t is not necessary
that Captains Smith and Bennett be hauled
over the Goals in the newspapers and the
feelings of their wives, families and rela-
tives panied by needless and harsh news
paper comments. The Inteliigencer has
made its comparisons of the two admins
trations and has told the people that Cap
tain Smith is not the man.
Now can 1t not leave the matter to the
voter and let it rest there? Is it afraid Of
the decision? The writer prefers Smith
administration and thinks that his man
agement of police affairs while not perfect,
is yet the best we have had for years. Let
the people decide and give US a pleasant
campaign, free from personalities. People
are getting tired of newspaper abuse, and
believe that wanton and personal attacks
have been carried to their natural end and
should no longer be endured.
LET Us HAVE PEACE"